Closure for tank fill pipes



Oct. 23, 1934. J. B. LANCASTER CLOSURE FOR TANK'FILL PIPES Filed Sept. 26, 1932 W m Ra E or M 0 M m m 5- I Jm Patented Oct. 23, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CLOSURE FOR TANK FILL PIPES John B. Lancasten flenderson, Tex.

Application September 26, 1932, serial No. 634,958

3 Claims. (Cl. 220-86) This invention relates to closures for tank fill pipes and has for its object to provide a device of the character described including two caps associated-with anannular base secured to the fill pipe, one cap being hinged to the base and in nested flange engagement therewith when closed, the other cap being hinged to the first cap and being in nested flange engagement therelocked for application of a gauge rod through an opening in the first cap and to permit the first cap to be unlocked from the base and, together with the outer cap, to be swung to one side to uncover the fill pipe.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:-

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the device in closed relation.

Fig. 2 is a plan view.

Fig. 3 is a plan view showing both caps in open position.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged section on line 44 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a similar section on line 5-5 of Fig.2. Referring to thedrawing, 1 indicates a pipe or tubular neck section attached to a storage tank for gasoline, oil and the like and through which the fluid is supplied to the tank. Such storage tanks are usually buried in the ground and the upper end of the fill pipe is carried up to a point unauthorized access to the contents of the tank.

' Some of the closures heretofore employed have involved two members, usually in superposed relation, to wit, an inner or main closure provided with an opening to receive a gauge rod for measuring the amount of liquid in the tank and an outer or subsidiary closure removably attached to the main closure for the purpose of closing the gauge rod opening in the first. These double closure devices, as heretofore constructed, have either been unnecessarily complicated or have failed to provide adequate seals against the entrance of moisture or other foreign material to the flll pipe and the tank and it is the purpose of the present invention to provide a relatively simple double closure possessing all of the advantages and none of the disadvantages of the former types.

Secured to the threaded end'2 of the fill pipe 1 is an annular base 3 having an interiorly threaded section i engaging the threads 2 of the pipe. 6

end, said base having an upper peripheral shoulder 5 and an upwardly extending annular flange 6, as more particularly shown in Fig. 5. Formed integrally with the base and extending from one side thereof is a perforated lug or ear constitutinga hinge section '7 and a second perforated lug 8, preferably located diametrically opposite the lug "7 and forming a lock engaging element.

Cooperating with the base 1 to constitute the main section of the closure is a cap 10 of substantially the same diameter of the base 3, having on its under face an annular flange 11 adapted to engage the shoulder5 and surround the flange 6 on the base and constitute an effective seal against the entrance of foreign material. Said cap is also provided with a second annular flange on its upper face and with a central opening or slot 15 adapted to permit the insertion of a gauge rod orthe like for measuring theamount of liquid in the tank. Formed on one side of the cap 10 is a double lug 13, which constitutes a complementary hinge member adapted to-be connected to the hinge member '7 on the body portion by the usual hinge pin or rivet. Formed on the opposite peripheral portionof the cap 10 is a perforated lug 14, which registers with the lug 8 on the body portion, so that, when a lock is engaged with the perforated lugs 8 and 14, the cap will be securely locked to the body portion to prevent unauthorized access to the tank. The lower or main cap 10 is also provided with a second perforated lug 16 on its peripheral edge, constituting one element of a hinge, and a second perforated lug 1'7 adapted to be engaged by a lock, these lugs 16 and 17 preferably being located at right angles to the lugs 7 and 8 on the base.

The upper or subsidiary cap 20 is of the same diameter of the cap 10 and is provided with hinge lugs 22 secured to hinge lug 16 on the lower cap 1 by the usual pin or rivet and provided on its opposite peripheral edge with perforated lug 23 adapted to register with the lug 17 on the lower cap, so that, when a lock is engaged with these registering lugs, the upper cap will be securely locked to the lower cap. The cap 20 is provided with a pendant peripheral flange 21, which surrounds the upstanding flange 12 on the lower cap and its lower edge engages the top surface of the upper cap to form an effective seal against the entrance of foreign material between the caps.

While the base 3 has been indicated as connected to the end of the fill pipe 2 by means of a screw threaded joint, it will be understood that any other appropriate type of joint may be employed, but the connection should be such that the base and the associated caps cannot be surreptitiously detached from the fill pipe and, in the particular form of the closure exemplified, this is effected by locking the cap to the end of the fill pipe by means of a bolt or rivet 9 passed through registering openings in the base and the fill pipe.

It will be particularly noted that the lower cap is in nested flange engagement with the base or body section 3 and that the upper cap is in similar nested flange engagement with the upper cap, and also that, when padlocks or other suitable locking devices are engaged with the mating lugs 8 and 14 and 17 and 23, respectively, the bottom cap is securely locked to the base and the top cap is similarly locked to the bottom cap. When it is desired to gain access to the tank through the fill pipe either to supply or, under certain circumstances, to remove liquid from the tank, the bottom cap is released by removing the lock engaging the lugs 8 and 14, thereby permitting the cap 10 and its associated cap 20 to be swung on the hinge, connecting the bottom cap and the base, to uncover the top of the fill pipe, the upper cap being locked to the lower cap. When it is desired to measure the amount of liquid in the tank, the upper cap 20 is unlocked by removing the lock engaging the lugs 17 and 23 and swinging the said upper cap laterally on its hinge connection with the lower cap, thereby exposing the slot or opening 10 in the lower cap and permitting the insertion of the gauge rod or other measuring device. At all times, except when the tank is be-- ing supplied with liquid or the amount of liquid in the tank is being measured, the main or lower cap 10 is kept locked to the base and the upper cap 20 locked to the lower cap, so that no unauthorized person can have access to the contents of the tank and no foreign materials can gain entrance to the tank by way of the fill pipe;

What I claim is:

1. A closure for tank fill pipes, comprising an annular base adapted to be secured to the end of the fill pipe and having an upper flanged end, an inner cap hinged to the base having a bottom flange telescoping over the flange on the base and an upstanding top flange, an outer cap hinged to the inner cap and having a pendent peripheral flange adapted to telescope over the top flange of the inner cap, said pendent flange of the outer cap and the bottom flange of the inner cap being of substantially the same external diameter, and coacting lock receiving lugs on the base and the inner cap and on the inner and outer caps respectively, the lock receiving lugs on said inner cap being circumferentially spaced from each other.

2. A closure for tank fill pipes, comprising an annular base adapted to be secured to the end of the fill pipe, said base having a hinge section and a lock receiving lug on its periphery, a main cap having a hinge section and a lock receiving lug complementary to those elements on the base and a second hinge section and lock receiving lug on its periphery, an outer cap having a hinge section and lock receiving lug complementary to the last mentioned hinge section and lock receiving lug on the main cap, the last named complementary hinge sections and lock receiving lugs respectively projecting from opposite sides of said caps intermediate said first named complementary hinge sections and lock receiving lugs, the base and the caps being of substantially the same diameter and the base and the caps having coordinate nested flanges constituting seals when the caps are in closed position.

3. A closure for tank fill pipes, comprising a base having a hinge section and a lock receiving lug respectively projecting from opposite sides thereof, an outer cap having a hinge section and a lock receiving lug respectively projecting from opposite sides thereof at substantially right angles to the hinge section and lock receiving lug of the base, and an inner cap having two pairs of projecting elements, the elements of one of said pairs constituting a hinge section and a lock receiving lug for respectively cooperating with the corresponding elements of the base and the elements of the other of said pairs constituting a hinge section and a lock receiving lug for respectively cooperating with the corresponding elements of the outer cap.

JOHN B. LANCASTER. 

